To all the preggo girls- advice

Lauren S · #1 July 31st, 2009, 06:20 AM

Pleeeeeease demand stool softeners in the hospital if they don't offer them to you. This is especially important for c-section mamas. Combine the anesthesia with the pain meds, and you have a recipe for disaster!

I have been having the most painful experience of my life the past few days. I would be in the bathroom for 45 minutes at a time not being able to go. I actually think the pain was worse than the first time I had to get out of bed the night of my c-section. Finally I had to call the doctor to see what I should do. I had to take Milk of Magnesia and use suppositories until I could go. So not pleasant!!!

So that's my PSA for the day.

LisaD · #2 July 31st, 2009, 06:27 AM

I can't imagine Lauren! My hospital sent them home in a pack with Tylenol and Advil. But yes, take them for sure, you will be sorry if you don't!

Lauren S · #3 July 31st, 2009, 06:47 AM

I know! I am so mad at the hospital for not giving them the time I was there. That was Tuesday-Saturday when I could have been taking them. Grrrr! That was the last thing from my mind, and I feel like they should have been on top of it.

LisaD · #4 July 31st, 2009, 07:23 AM

They should have been! Although my hospital forgot to give me my Rhogam shot which was pretty important! I think sometimes they get in a hurry and forget things, but that is NOT ok! I'm so sorry you had to go through that, it does not sound like fun.

downunderchick · #5 July 31st, 2009, 08:23 AM

thanks for the advice Lauren, sorry youve had to go through that!!

OK i know this is a stupid question but can I ask why is it so much harder to go after? is it because everythings more sensitive and youre using those muscles?
is your actual secretions actually harder? Maybe im supposedto know this but I dont so hoping one of you could clue me up a bit.

samspain · #6 July 31st, 2009, 08:24 AM

I must have been lucky, I never had any problems. Must have been the only thing that didn�t complicate itself!!

xanada101 · #7 July 31st, 2009, 09:28 AM

OMG Lauren I know! They offered me a suppository in the hospital and I wish I had taken them up on the offer! It took me over an hour to go when I came home and it was VERY painful.

Emma, I don't know if it's as painful for mama's with vaginal deliveries... but for c-sections they cut through some of your abdominal muscles to get the baby out. Plus all the pain meds and anesthesia (like Lauren said) can plug you up.

LisaD · #8 July 31st, 2009, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by emcooper

thanks for the advice Lauren, sorry youve had to go through that!!

OK i know this is a stupid question but can I ask why is it so much harder to go after? is it because everythings more sensitive and youre using those muscles?
is your actual secretions actually harder? Maybe im supposedto know this but I dont so hoping one of you could clue me up a bit.

Everything is more sensitive down there for sure! Also, many people that deliver vaginally may have tearing. I know I did, and I had some stitches. I know that the stool softeners helped so I didn't feel like I was ripping out my stitches or making it worse. But yes, very painful down there for a little while after. Ice helps, and I sat on a pillow for several days afterward!

For the c-section mommas, it HURTS to push after you have a surgery like that. They have to cut through muscle, etc. to get that baby out. So again, anything that makes it easier is good!

karenwalter · #9 July 31st, 2009, 09:40 AM

Thanks for the advice! I need to put together a list of all the things I should be remebering LOL

It's a shame that the nurses in the hospital didn't explain this to you from the begining.

LindsLuvsSi · #10 July 31st, 2009, 09:46 AM

It was painful/hard for me too, but I was constipated. (vaginal delivery, no tearing or stitches) I don't think I went for like 4 days, I'd try but not much luck, so when I finally did it was a bit painful, but after that it was much easier.

KCMomma · #11 July 31st, 2009, 10:13 AM

Good advice Lauren. My nurses actually gave me stool softeners with every pain pill and I think that helped a ton. They offered a suppository but I didn't want it. Luckily I was able to go before I even left the hospital. But yes, if you have a c section, you absolutely can not push so that's a problem.

#12 July 31st, 2009, 10:59 AM

GREAT ADVICE!

And listen to this--I was READMITTED to the hospital for blocked up POO! (it looked like something else on ultrasound and I was in tons of pain) So have your milk of magnesia ready c-section gals, just in case a stool softener isn't enough. And remember, Percocet constipates so . . .

Lauren your siggy is so adorable, I LOVE it!

~Andrea~ · #13 July 31st, 2009, 03:13 PM

I second this...even without a C-section. I ended up with a small hemmorhoid and I didn't take any stool softeners until two days after I had been home. Things would have been much smoother if I would have started them in the hospital.

Great idea to post this Lauren!

courtneytcu98 · #14 July 31st, 2009, 05:40 PM

I would actually recommend taking the softeners up to 2 week prior to your due date. Even doing that, my first BM after having Elliott (vaginal, small tear) was one of the more painful experiences in my life. There was lots of me talking to DH through the door and me doing lots of deep breathing.

Celry · #15 August 1st, 2009, 02:42 PM

My prenatal has a stool softener in it. Even though I'm also on iron, I haven't had issues with hard stool my entire pregnancy. Since the prenatal already has it, should I take another stool softener before delivery? Keep in mind that I'll probably have a csection.

If I should take one, what should I take? I've never been constipated, so have no clue what type of products are out there or what to use.

courtneytcu98 · #16 August 1st, 2009, 09:27 PM

Hmm, Valerie. I would definitely ask your doctor. The pain meds can definitely cause constipation and that's just no fun at all. I used Colace without a stimulant--just the softener.

KrystalB · #17 August 2nd, 2009, 08:35 AM

Such good advice, Lauren!!
At the hospital, I was given stool softeners twice a day and I think I continued taking them at home for over a month, too! The first one was very painful (I had a vag delivery with tearing and stitches).. It almost felt like I was pushing a baby out again!

I think there are only certain ones you can take while pregnant or BFing, so I'd look into it before taking one.

Boo · #18 August 2nd, 2009, 09:41 AM

I hope this thread doesn't scare those who are pregnant.

Everyone first BM after giving birth is different so don't think you're necessarily in for a second dose of delivery. I was given stool softeners too in the hospital (I believe twice per day) and I took them 2x a day when I got home for a good chunk of time. I was also on iron, so the stool softeners were a must. I had a vag delivery and ended up with a 2nd degree laceration and my first BM was easy. I will admit I was scared out of my mind and held it off until I couldn't anymore and my Mom actually yelled at me for doing that because it would only make it worse.

Brenda04 · #19 August 2nd, 2009, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lauren S

Pleeeeeease demand stool softeners in the hospital if they don't offer them to you. This is especially important for c-section mamas. Combine the anesthesia with the pain meds, and you have a recipe for disaster!

I have been having the most painful experience of my life the past few days. I would be in the bathroom for 45 minutes at a time not being able to go. I actually think the pain was worse than the first time I had to get out of bed the night of my c-section. Finally I had to call the doctor to see what I should do. I had to take Milk of Magnesia and use suppositories until I could go. So not pleasant!!!

So that's my PSA for the day.

I wen't exactly trough the same thing, and it's really the most painful experience even worse than the contractions I had.

Lauren S · #20 August 3rd, 2009, 08:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Celry

My prenatal has a stool softener in it. Even though I'm also on iron, I haven't had issues with hard stool my entire pregnancy. Since the prenatal already has it, should I take another stool softener before delivery? Keep in mind that I'll probably have a csection.

If I should take one, what should I take? I've never been constipated, so have no clue what type of products are out there or what to use.

I would definitely ask your doctor about it. Colace is what they finally had me take, and the doctor was surprised I wasn't getting it in the hospital.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boo

I hope this thread doesn't scare those who are pregnant.

Everyone first BM after giving birth is different so don't think you're necessarily in for a second dose of delivery. I was given stool softeners too in the hospital (I believe twice per day) and I took them 2x a day when I got home for a good chunk of time. I was also on iron, so the stool softeners were a must. I had a vag delivery and ended up with a 2nd degree laceration and my first BM was easy. I will admit I was scared out of my mind and held it off until I couldn't anymore and my Mom actually yelled at me for doing that because it would only make it worse.

Hope I didn't scare anyone! Your experience probably wasn't so bad since you were taking them regularly. Mine was so bad because I hadn't taken any softeners or gone to the bathroom in 9 days (plus I was on narcotics which bind you up).